Wayland landfill panel backs soccer field, DPW yard, drops housing plan

WAYLAND -- February 17, 2026, Wayland committee drops housing, backs fields and a DPW yard for Route 20 landfill. The Route 20 South Landfill Visioning Committee on Feb. 17 endorsed a conceptual plan from Ed Shoucair of The Collaborative to redevelop 17 capped acres with a 300-by-150-foot grass soccer field, up to 82 parking spaces, a flexible play area, school bus parking and a DPW materials handling center. Chair Thomas Fay said housing was ruled out after the state Department of Environmental Protection signaled it would require landfill material to be excavated; "because of cost, we dropped that," Shoucair said. DPW Director Tom Holder pegged waste depth at more than 15 feet on the western end. Resident Tom Sciacca warned against anything "visible from the river that would compromise its wild and scenic river character." The committee voted 7-0 to adjourn and set a Feb. 24 session to finalize its report to the Select Board.